A Marie Antoinette Exhibition Is Coming To The V&A Next Year

4 months ago

Plus: a Cartier exhibition, and another delving into Design and Disability

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The glorious Victoria and Albert Museum (best known as the V&A) is moving from strength to strength, with everything from a Taylor Swift trail to a Naomi Campbell display to a blockbuster Chanel exhibition showcased in recent months. Continuing the fashion trend, the world renowned museum has just announced what is coming in 2025 – and it sounds incredible. From a Marie Antoinette exhibition to an exhibition delving into design’s relationship with disability, here’s what we will enjoy at the V&A next year.

V&A Announces 2025 Exhibitions

Cartier

It’s the first UK exhibition delving into this world-famous jewellery house in 30 years. Cartier is an unparalleled force in the jewellery and watch industry – but how did it get here? Featuring more than 250 objects, Cartier will trace the evolution of the Maison’s art, design and craftsmanship since the three grandsons of founder Louis-Francois set to create the first globally recognisable jewellery house at the turn of the 20th century. Fans of Cartier span royalty and aristocracy across the globe – as well as creatives from the world of cinema, music and fashion. Indeed, the exhibition will feature works lent by none other than His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, alongside pieces from the V&A archives, Cartier’s archives, UK and international museums, and private collections.

Details: Cartier will run from 12 April until 16 November 2025 at the V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL).

‘Rebirth’ Garments. Sandra Oviedo (a.k.a.) Colectivo Multipolar (Courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

Design and Disability

As the Paralympics continue just over the English Channel, the V&A has announced that a Design and Disability exhibition will be launched in South Kensington in 2025. Centring disability as a culture and an identity, the exhibition will explore design, art, architecture, fashion and photography from the 1940s to now. Disabled, deaf and neurodiverse people and communities have always been important, radical contributors to design, and Design and Disability will function as both a celebration, educational tool and a call to action, showcasing how design can be made more equitable, accessible and aim towards design justice.

Details: Design and Disability will run from 7 June 2025 until 15 February 2026 at the V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL).

Antoinetta, 2005 by Manolo Blahnik (Courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

Marie Antoinette Style, Sponsored By Manolo Blahnik

Her legacy never fades: Marie Antionette is one of history’s most remembered style icons, and – following displays devoted to Chanel and Naomi Campbell – the V&A will delve into this historical figure in the UK’s first dedicated exhibition. A fashion icon amongst her contemporaries as well as to modern fashion lovers retrospectively, the dress and interiors modelled and adopted by the ill fated queen in the late 18th century would have a lasting influence on design, fashion, film and decorative arts, stretching 250 years to today – and beyond, we are sure. Marie Antoinette’s style has had countless revivals – but why are we so entranced by her style? The V&A exhibition will delve into this across objects and media, from gowns to audio visual installations, considering afresh the legacy of this complex figure whose style nevertheless beguiles us.

Details: Marie Antoinette Style will run from 20 September 2025 until 22 March 2026 at the V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL).

Set of nine photographic prints on aluminium, by Chant Avedissian, 1990. (© Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

Young V&A: Making Egypt

Hot off its Museum of the Year win, newness is coming to the Young V&A in 2025 in the form of Making Egypt, a family-focussed exhibition transporting visitors on a journey through the ancient society through ancient artefacts, many on display for the first time, contemporary fashion, jewellery, comics, film, games, sculpture, ceramics and more. Today, Egyptian stories and images still impact art, design and popular culture, and the Young V&A will tell the society’s story across three sections exploring themes of imagining, communicating and making, with gods guiding each step of the way. Visitors will try to decipher hieroglyphs, discover messages communicated through colour, plus explore the making of objects that populated ancient Egypt.

Details: Making Egypt will run from 15 February until 2 November 2025 at the Young V&A (Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA).

V&A East: The Music Is Black

When the V&A newest outpost opens in 2025, it will be with an exhibition delving into the lasting impact of Black British musicians. You can read all about what to expect here.

Details: The Music Is Black will open at the V&A East (London E20 3AX) in 2025, with specific dates still TBC.